Bring Your Husband or Wife to Live With You Abroad

The UK spouse visa lets you join a British or settled partner in the UK. It's one of the most popular routes for Pakistani families, but the financial requirement is strict, so plan carefully before applying.

Who can apply

• You are married to, or in a civil partnership with, a British citizen or someone with UK settled status (ILR).
• Your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently in the UK.
• Your UK sponsor (or you both together) meet the income requirement.

Key requirements

• Financial: The sponsor must show a minimum gross income of £29,000/year (raised from £18,600 in April 2024). This can come from employment, self-employment, pension, savings or other permitted sources.
• English language: An approved A1-level Secure English Language Test (SELT) the most common option for applicants from Pakistan.
• TB test: A tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic (required for Pakistan).
• Accommodation: Proof of suitable UK accommodation for the couple.

Step-by-step process

1. Confirm eligibility: check the £29,000 income and gather relationship evidence.
2. Take the A1 English test and the TB test at approved centres.
3. Complete the online application and pay the Home Office fee + Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
4. Book biometrics at a UK visa application centre in Pakistan and submit documents.
5. Wait for a decision: standard time up to 12 weeks (a Super Priority service is available for an extra fee, often next-working-day).
6. Travel and settle: after 5 years on this route you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

What it costs (2026)

• Application fee: around £2,064 from outside the UK (£1,321–£1,407 from inside).
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year, paid upfront about £3,105 for the initial 33-month visa. This gives NHS access.
• English test: roughly £150–£200. TB test: extra. Biometrics: small fee.
• Realistic first-application total: about £5,400–£5,500 before translations, priority service or legal fees.
• Priority options: Priority £500 (~30 working days) or Super Priority £1,000 (often next working day).

Common reasons UK spouse visas get refused

• Sponsor income falls short of £29,000, or the evidence doesn't match the strict format the rules require.
• Weak relationship evidence too few photos, messages or proof of visits.
• Missing or wrong English test / TB test certificate.
• Gaps or inconsistencies between the forms and the supporting documents.

Canada is unique a spouse is sponsored directly for permanent residence, and there is generally no minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner. That makes it one of the most attractive routes for many couples.

Two ways to apply

Key requirements

• The sponsor is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old.
• The relationship is genuine officers assess how it began, communication, visits, financial ties and family knowledge.
• The sponsor agrees to financially support the spouse for a set period (an "undertaking").
• No serious criminal or immigration inadmissibility.

Step-by-step process

1. Gather documents marriage certificate, relationship proof, IDs and police clearances.
2. Submit the sponsorship + PR application together to IRCC (choose inland or outland).
3. Receive AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt), usually 2–8 weeks later.
4. Complete biometrics and medical exam when requested.
5. (Inland only) Apply for an Open Work Permit so your spouse can work during processing.
6. Final decision → PR your spouse becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

What it costs (2026)

• IRCC government fees: about CAD $1,260–$1,345 total made up of the sponsorship fee (~$90), processing fee (~$570), Right of Permanent Residence Fee (~$600) and biometrics (~$85). Rates updated April 30, 2026.
• Spousal Open Work Permit (inland, optional): about CAD $255 extra so your spouse can work while waiting.
• Third-party costs: roughly CAD $450–$1,500 for the medical exam, police certificates and certified translations.
• Refunds: the RPRF ($600) is refundable if you're refused after processing or withdraw; a file returned as incomplete gets government fees back.

Common reasons Canadian sponsorships get refused or delayed

• Incomplete files: a large share of inland applications are returned under IRCC's completeness ("R10") check, costing months.
• Relationship not proven "genuine" thin evidence of how it began, communication and shared life.
• Sponsor ineligible (past sponsorship debts, certain criminal history, or living outside Canada as a PR).
• Missing medicals, biometrics or police certificates when requested.

To bring a spouse to the USA you generally use the CR-1 / IR-1 immigrant visa, which leads to a Green Card. If you're engaged but not yet married, the K-1 fiancé(e) visa lets your partner enter the US to marry within 90 days, then adjust status.

Which route

Key requirements

• The sponsor is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (rules differ slightly between the two).
• A valid, genuine marriage (or a genuine intent to marry, for K-1).
• Financial: The sponsor files an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) showing income above the required threshold.
• Medical exam and police/background checks at the consular stage.

Step-by-step process (CR-1)

1. File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) with USCIS this stage alone can take 12–16 months.
2. National Visa Center (NVC) processing pay fees, submit the Affidavit of Support and civil documents.
3. Consular interview at the US Embassy (Islamabad for Pakistan) with medical exam.
4. Visa issued: your spouse travels to the US.
5. Green Card is produced after entry.

What it costs (2026)

• Form I-130 petition filing fee (paid to USCIS), plus immigrant visa & Affidavit of Support processing fees at the National Visa Center stage.
• Medical exam at an approved panel physician in Pakistan, plus the USCIS Immigrant Fee after visa issuance (for the physical Green Card).
• Fees change periodically always confirm the current amounts on the USCIS and Travel.State.Gov fee pages before you pay.

Common reasons US spouse cases get refused or delayed

• Sponsor's income is below the Affidavit of Support threshold (a joint sponsor may be needed).
• Doubts about a genuine marriage especially short marriages or limited time spent together.
• Prior US immigration or visa-overstay history, or inadmissibility issues.
• Incomplete civil documents or long USCIS/service-centre backlogs.

Australia's partner visa lets the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen live in Australia. It's a two-stage visa a temporary visa first, then permanent residence assessed about two years later.

Which pathway

• Onshore 820/801: Apply while in Australia. The 820 (temporary) is granted first; the 801 (permanent) is assessed ~2 years later.
• Offshore 309/100: Apply while outside Australia. The 309 lets you enter; the 100 (permanent) follows.
• Prospective Marriage 300: For engaged couples gives up to 9 months to enter and marry, then move onto the 820/801.

Key requirements

• A genuine, continuing relationship assessed across four pillars: financial, household, social and commitment.
• For de facto partners: generally show the relationship has existed at least 12 months (exceptions apply).
• Health examinations and police clearances for each applicant.

Step-by-step process

1. Choose your pathway (onshore, offshore, or prospective marriage) based on where you are.
2. Build a "decision-ready" evidence pack joint finances, shared living, social proof and commitment.
3. Lodge online and pay the combined government fee (one fee covers both stages).
4. Complete health and character checks.
5. Temporary visa granted (820 or 309) you can live in Australia.
6. Permanent visa (801 or 100) assessed about 2 years after lodging.

What it costs (2026)

• Government application charge: AUD $11,710 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026 (up from $9,365). One fee covers both the temporary and permanent stages you don't pay twice.
• Prospective Marriage (300) → 820/801: the follow-on partner application is a reduced fee (around AUD $1,955).
• Extra costs: health examinations (~$300–$700 per adult), police clearances (varies by country), and translations.
• Non-refundable if the application is refused.

Common reasons partner visas get refused or delayed

• Evidence doesn't clearly cover all four pillars (financial, household, social, commitment).
• Date inconsistencies between forms and documents Home Office expects a "decision-ready" file.
• For de facto partners: not enough proof of a 12-month relationship.
• Health or character issues, or missing police clearances.

There is no single "Schengen spouse visa." To join a spouse living in a European country (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, etc.), you apply for that country's family reunification route usually a national long-stay (type D) visa, followed by a residence permit after arrival.

Common requirements across Europe

• A legally recognised marriage and proof of a genuine relationship.
• The sponsor has legal residence in that country (citizen, permanent resident, or valid residence permit).
• Proof of adequate income/means and suitable accommodation.
• Health insurance and, in some countries, a basic language requirement (e.g. Germany often asks for A1 German before arrival).

Typical process

1. Check the specific country's rules: each EU state sets its own income, language and housing conditions.
2. Sponsor prepares supporting documents in the country of residence.
3. Apply for the national D visa at that country's embassy in Pakistan.
4. Travel on the D visa after approval.
5. Apply for a residence permit locally after arrival.

• Under-documenting the relationship. Assuming "we're clearly married" is enough. Officers need evidence, not assumptions.
• Falling short on the income/financial rule. Especially for the UK's £29,000 threshold or presenting the income in the wrong format the rules demand.
• Inconsistent dates and details. Small mismatches between forms, passports and documents raise doubts and cause delays or refusals.
• Incomplete files. A missing police certificate, medical, translation or signature can get your whole application returned wasting months.
• Wrong or expired language/medical tests. Using a non-approved English test provider, or letting a TB test expire before submission.
• Skipping proper attestation/translation. For Pakistani documents this is essential see below.
• Applying under the wrong route. E.g. choosing inland vs outland (Canada) or the wrong subclass (Australia) without understanding the trade-offs.

What usually needs attestation

• Marriage certificate (registered with NADRA / Union Council) and nikah nama.
• Birth certificates and family registration (FRC) where required.
• Educational or professional documents, if used to support the application.

Typical attestation chain

1. Union Council / NADRA: get the document officially registered and issued.
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): attestation that verifies the document for international use.
3. Embassy / destination-country requirement: some countries ask for further legalisation or a specific format.
4. Certified English translation: any Urdu document usually needs a certified translation to be accepted.